Electric clock-winding mechanism.



G. H. R'UPLBY. ELECTRIC CLOCK WINDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED AUG.10, 1908.

1,023,684. Patented Apr 16, 1912.

weight cloc means of a weight instead of a spring, the

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. RUPLEY, or SCHENECTADY,

MENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK .J'. SEAIBOLT NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB,- BY MESNEASSIGN- AND ONE-FOURTH TO EDWARD C.

HALL, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, AND ONE-FOURTH T EDWARD F. PICKFORD, OFWASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; MABEL H. HALL EXECUTBIX OF SAID EDWARDC. HALL, DECEASED.

ELECTRIC CLOCK-WINDING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

and has for its object the provision of means whereby an electriccurrent will be periodically utilized to effect the winding of the clockmechanism after a predetermined amount of energy has been consumed.

My invention relates more specifically to the windin of clocks of thetype known as s in which energy is stored by arrangement being such thatan electric motor is periodically energized to lift the weight apredetermined amount.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide means whereby a clockmechanism of this character may be connected to an electric lighting orpower circuit, and-will wind and rewind to restore energy to the clockmechanism at intervals and require no attention.

A further object of my invention is to provide against failure ofoperation of the motor due to failure of current or other cause. Thisobject I accomplish by arran ing the parts so that'if'the power shoufail when it becomes time for the mechanism to be wound, the clockmechanism will continue to operate for a definite eriod, and, whenthepower returns, the wei ht is lifted to its highest oint so as to filly restore the energy. urthermore the lifting of the wei ht of mymechanism is accom-. plished wit out removing the strain of the weightfrom the clock mechanism so that the pull of the weight is uniform atall times even while the weight is being lifted.

Further objects of my invention will appear in the course of thefollowing specification in which I have shown my invention embodied inconcrete form for purposes'of illustration.

In the drawing disclosing my invention,

- lent.

Figure 1 shows, somewhat diagrammatically, my invention applied to aclock mechanism; Fig. 2 represents a side and end elevation of thecontacting drum; vFig. 3 shows the contact drum developed on a flatsurface; Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the contact-drum; Fig. 5 showsmy invention employing a spring instead of a weight; and Fig. 6 is adiagram ,of the circuit connections.

Referring to the drawing, 10 represents a sprocket wheel siiitablymounted upon an arbor 11 so as to operate the clock train 12. Thissprocket is arranged so as to operate the clock mechanism when driven inthe .direction of the arrow a. An electric motor 13 is placed so as tostore energy in the clock -mechanism. The construction of this motorforms no part of my invention and may be of any well-known and suitabledesign. A sprocket wheel 14 is geared to the armature of the motor andis engaged by an endless chain 15 which passes over the sprocket 10 soas to form two loops 16 and 17, one on each side of the motor. A wei ht18 or its equivalent, a spring, is movab y connected to the loop 16 bymeans of a sheave 19, and a sheave 20 is likewise mounted in the loop17. A flexible cord 21 is secured to the sheave 20 and passes over adrum 22 mounted in bearings 23. This drum comprises a plain portion towhich one end of the cord 21"is attached so as to wind up the cord and acontacting portion 24 of smaller diameter. This latter: portion has aconducting metal surface 25 and an insulatin surface 26 separated by aflange or rib 2 arranged at an angle to the axis of rotation. A springc'ontactor 28 having abrush 28 is arrange so as to enga e either'theconducting or nsulating portlon of the drum and be deflected from onesurface to the other by the flange 27. This drum is given a springtension or bias in a direction to wind'up the cord 21 in any suitablemanner, as for instance p y means of a spring 29 or its equiva' isspring has its inner end secured to the shaft 30 while its outer end issecured tothe flange on the drum. The shaft 30' fixed in thebearings 23and when the drum is rotated it places a tension on'the spring.

29 so that the drum has a tendency to rotate in .the direction of thearrow 6.

The mode of operation of my device is as follows: During the normaloperation of the clock, the weight 18 is exercising a pull on the chain15 so as to rotate the sprocket, the sheave 19 slipping along the chainas the weight descends. During this movement of the weight, the motor isstationary. As the Weight travels downward and the sprocket 11 rotatesin the direction of the arrow, the loop 17 is shortened and the cord 21rotates the drum against its spring tension. During this movement thebrush 28 i in engagement with the insulating surface 2% so that themotor circuit is open. The brush engages the flange 27 and is deflectedas the drum rotates. When it reaches the end of the flange it snaps overonto the conducting portion 25 so as to close the motor circuit as shownin Fig. 6. The motor now rotates in sprocket 14: in the direction of thearrow ,0 thereby lifting the weight 18 and at the same time lowering thesheave 20, the drum 22 taking up the slack in the cord 21 as the drumrotates in response to its spring tension. During the rotation of thedrum the contactor remains in engagement with the conducting surface 25and is again deflected by the flange 27. When it reaches the end of theflange it again snaps over onto the insulating surface andstops themotor. It is quite evident that a spring may be substituted as anequivalent for the weight 18, and in Fig. 5 I have shown a clock spring31 and a drum 32 connected to sheave 19 so as to operate in place of theweight in an obvious way.

While my device thus far described is adapted for use with any electricener since the motor may be arranged for anyesired potential, I haveshown it in'connection'with a lighting or power circuit for which it isvery well adapted. On circuits of this kind the power not infrequentlyfails for short or long periods. In fact in some places the current isoff for a certain portion of the day. I have provided against thiscontingency by so arranglng my winding mechanism that the weight 18 willcontinue todescend and operate the clock train after the time when themotor is supposed to operate to lift the weight'and when the motor doesoperate the we1 ht will be lifted to its original position. T is I accomlish by having the insulating surface 26 orm only a portion of the drumso that the contactor may continue to rotate around the drum in contactwith'the conducting surface as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3. .Inother words whenthe contactor 28 snaps over onto the conducting portion25 and the motor fails to operate to, reverse the drum, the drum maycontinue to rotate in the same direction with the contactor inengagement with the conducting surface instead of with the insulatingsurface so that when the power returns, the motor will be immediatelyenergized and the motor will rotate until the contactor snaps off theflange onto the insulating portion. The weight is thereby restored toits highest point and the movement continues as before. Failure ofcurrent thus in no way affects the operation of the clock since thetension of the weight has remained the same and has not been affected bythe winding; If, however, the power should remain off for an unusuallength of time, the weight 18 will engage the stop or bracket 33 and theclock will stop with the motor circuit closed so that at any time shouldthe power come on, the weight will be lifted in the usual way. It willbe seen that the clock will continue to operate without any attentionwhatsover and the weight .is never removed from the clock mechanism evenduring the winding. The mechanism for accomplishing this resuit is ofthe very simplest character and may be applied to existing clockswithout making any substantial change therein.

While I have described my invention in connection with a certain type ofclock mechanism and as operating in a definite way for purposes ofillustration in accord ance with the requirements of the patentstatutes, it should be understood that I do not limit my inventionthereto since various modifications will suggest themselves to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention. Itshould likewise be understood that I regard a spring and a weight asequivalents and have so used the terms throughout the specification andclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is,

1. The combination with clock mecha-- nism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged to formtwo loops, a weight movably suspended in one of said loops, and

a circuit controlling device permanently biased to move in one,directionconnected to one of said loops.

2. The combination with clock -mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged to formtwo loops, a weight movably suspended in one of said loops, and a rotarycircuit controller permanently biased to rotate in one directionconnected to one of said loops.

3. The combination with clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged to formtwo loops, a weight for actuating the clock mechanism movably suspendedin one of said loops, and a circuit controlling device permanentlybiased to move in one direction connected to the other loo so as to bemoved thereby and return w en released.

and'a rotary circuit controlling device or' the motor permanentlybiasedto rotate in one direction connected to one of said loops to be movedthereby continuously against the bias and return in response to thebias.

5. The combination with clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged to formtwo loops a weight movably suspended in one of said loops, and a drumcontrolling device for the motor connected to one of said loops so as tobe rotated in one direction against a bias and returned in response tothe bias.

6. The combination with clock mechanism, of operating meansthereforcomprisin an endless motor, .an endless looped driving chain, aweight movably suspended in a looped ortion of said chain, and a circuitcontrolling device for the motor permafl nently biased to move in onedirection arran ed to be moved continuously against the iaswhen theweight moves in onedirection and return in response to its bias when theweight moves in the opposite direction.

7. The combination with clock -mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged to formtwo loops, a wei ht for actuating the clock mechanism movaly suspendedin one of said loops, and a circuit controlling device for the motorpermanently connected to the other of said loops so as to movecontinuously therewith 'in opposite directions, the motor circuit beingopen during one direction of movement an closed during the other.

8. The combination with clock mecha-- nism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged to formtwo loops, a weight.

movably suspended in one of said loops, and a drum controlling devicefor the motor connected to one of said loops so as to be rotated therebya redetermined amount in one direction and returned, the motor c1r cuitbeing 0 en during one direction of movement an closed durin the other.

9. The combination wit clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged to form.two loops, a wel ht for actuating the clock mechanism mova 1y suspendedin one of said loops, and a circuit controlling device for the motorpermanently connected to the other so as to be moved thereby in onedirection against a bias and returned therewith in response to its bias,the motor circuit being open during one direction of movement and closedduring the other.

10. The combination with clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chainarrang'ed to form.two loops, a weight movably suspendedin one of said loops, and a drumcontrolling device for the otor connected to one of said loops so as oberotated in one direction apredetermined amount against a bias andreturned in'response to the bias, the motor circuit being 0 en duringone direction of movement and c osed during the other.

11. The combination with clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electricmotor, an endless driving chain arranged to formtwo loops, a weight movably suspended in one of said loops, and a drumcontrolling device for the motor biased to rotate in one directionconnected to the other so as to be moved thereby against the bias withthe motor circuit open and return therewith in response to the bias withthe motor circuit closed.

12. The combination with clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an endless chain, a weight mounted thereon, a motor forlifting the weight up the chain, and a controlling device for said motorarranged to be moved a predetermined distance alternately by the motorand weight, and means whereby the weight and,

member continue to move in one direction with the motor circuit closedafter the predetermined movement upon the failure of the motor tooperate.

13. The combination with clock mechanism, of operatin means thereforcomprising an endless ooped driving chain, a weight movably suspended ina looped portion thereof to actuate the clock mechanism, an electricmotor for lifting said weight, a circuit controlling device arranged toalternately open and close the motor circuit after the wei ht is liftedand descends a, predetermine amount, and means whereby the weightcontinues to descend with the motor circuit closed after itlhas movedthe prede termined amount upon the failure of the motor to operate. a

14. The combination with clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an endless chain, a wei ht mounted thereon, a motor formoving't e weight up the chain and controlling means forsaid motorcomprising contacting members, one of which moves with the weight apredetermineddistance in one directlon with themotor circuit open and inthe opposite direction with the motor circuit closed, and means wherebythe weight and member continue to move in one direction withv the motorcircuit closed after a predetermined movement upon failure of the motorto operate.

15. The combination with clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an endless driving chain, a weight suspended thereon toactuate the clock mechanism, an electric motor for lifting. said weighta circuit controlling device arranged 'to open the motor circuit afterthe weight is continuously therewith in one direction with the motorcircuitopen and in the opposite .direction with the motor circuitclosed.

1 17. The combination with clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged to formtwo loops, a weight movably suspended in one of said loops, a circuitcontrolling device connected to one of said loops so as. to move apredetermined amount in one direction with the motor circuit open as theweight descends and in the opposite direction with the motor circuitclosed as the weight is lifted, and means whereby the weight continuesto descend with the motor circuit closed after it has movedthepredetermined amount on the failure of the motor to 0 crate.

18. The combination with a clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged'to'formtwo loops, a weight movably suspended in one of said loops, and a drumcircuit controlling device connected to one of said loops to be movedcontinuously therewith.

19. The combination with a clock mecha nism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged to formtwo loops, a weight movably suspended in one of said loops, a circuitcontrolling device for the motor connected to one of said loops to movecontinuously therewith and a spring contact 00- operating withsaid-device and permanently engaging the same.

' 20. The combination with a clock mechanism, of operating meanstherefor comprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arrangedto form two loops, a weight movably suspended in one of said loops and acircuit controlling device for the motor connected to one of said loopsand independent of the weight, said device comprising a movable contactand a spring contact cooperating therewith.

21. The combination with a clock mechanism, of operating means thereforcomprising an electric motor, an endless driving chain arranged to formtwo loops, a weight movably suspended in one of said loops and a circuitcontrolling device for the motor connected to one of said loops andindependent of the weight, said device comprismg a rotatable drum and aspring contact cooperating therewith.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of August,1908.

GEORGE H. RUPLEY.

